I use Aurifil to piece with, it is pricy but you get alot on the spool and the bobbin holds alot also as it is a very thin thread. I hand applique with YLI silk, it disappears into the fabric. I machine quilt mainly using King Tut, I also like the YLI varigated for machine quilting.

DMC thread has a tenancy to bleed especially since they changed the laws on types of dyes that can be used. It's the only brand of thread I use for cross stitching. I always soak it in clean dish water in little custard cups and then air dry it on a hanger after rinsing it thoroughly. So I'd wash it before I put the effort into a quilt.
Hint: I put the number band next to the little bowl and then on the hanger so I know which color is which.

It holds up very well I have dresser scarves my mother made before she was married the fabrics getting worn, but the thread is still beautiful.

I found out the hard way that DMC will bleed:(
I made a red work abc for a baby gift and when removing my markings for the quilting the red did bleed.

When I bought my Babylock sewing/embroidery machine, the lady who taught the free classes said we should never use C&C thread because that's the "lintiest" of all threads. She had pics of different brands close up which showed the amount of "untwisting" with each brand. I had always used that in my old sewing machine; but now I have a mental block about that when I buy thread. I, too, like the Robison-Anton.

Yes, I get colors of aurifil thread that our quilt shop doesn't carry. Aurifil is my choice to piece with. It's just a bit more expensive than C&C but when you consider it has more than 3 times as much thread on a spool as C&C, and it's much smoother, the cost is worth it.

Great discussion! Currently I'm using two machines, an older Baby Lock and a new Sapphire Husqvarna. I was also told, way back when, not to use C&C but my Baby Lock loves it. In fact, I sometimes have trouble with more expensive threads.
However, with my Husqvarna, I use Madeira almost exclusively because, once again, the dealer told me not to use C&C and, given the price I paid for the Husqvarna (pricey for me!), I use the better thread.
Guess its a matter of what the machine likes and what you can afford. I should also add that I'm diligent about having my machines cleaned professionally once a year.

I use Coats & Clark. It's polyester, but I like it better than the expensive cottons.

I have been using Connecting Threads for years, love it and I don't find it to lint BUT I do use Superior threads Bottom Line exclusively in my bobbin, so not much lint in the bobbin area or under the plate.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Do you ever have a problem with linting with Connecting Threads cotton spools?

I, too, use the 1200 yard Coats n Clark Egyptian thread from Joann's. My machine balks at the usual Dual Duty Coats n Clark by stripping the thread through the tension but the Egyptian thread works beautifully. I especially like that it gives off very little lint while sewing. I, also, use my coupons for neutral colors when I don't need the coupon for something else.